Michigan State wide receiver Bennie Fowler is the Spartans' only senior wideout headed into the fall.Gillian Van Stratt

EAST LANSING — Michigan State senior receiver Bennie Fowler admits it, he had gotten spoiled the first two seasons he played for the Spartans.

"We've had established excellence around here,'' Fowler said. "Both seasons I played, we won 11 games, so going 7-6 and having those growing pains, it's something you're not accustomed to seeing around here.''

But it's what the nation expects.

ESPN brought its college football spring caravan to town on Thursday, and one day after gushing over Michigan's growth under coach Brady Hoke, analyst Jesse Palmer raised questions about the Spartans' quarterback play, the offense as a whole, and the team's ability to be championship contenders.

It's not likely to matter much to Fowler, who is intent on getting the receivers and offense back on track in East Lansing.

"I think the offense has gotten a lot better, and we're going to spread people out more,'' Fowler said. "Every single day, every time we do 7-on-7, team pass drills, Coach (Mark) Dantonio is always harping on it, making explosive plays, making a play of 10-plus yards, running after the catch.''

Fowler said the receivers were back on the field working voluntarily immediately after the team's 17-16 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl victory over TCU in the Spartans' school-record sixth consecutive bowl trip.

"We got after it, 100 passes a day with all the different quarterbacks,'' Fowler said. "We also came in and ran routes three times a week.

Now that ESPN has left East Lansing, it's up to the Spartans to get back to work and prove they aren't ready to play second-fiddle to the Wolverines, despite what ESPN's team previews might suggest.

Fowler doesn't worry about what any outsiders say about his quarterback.

"People were doubting Kirk (Cousins) as well, and he came back 11-1 and everyone was on his side,'' Fowler pointed out. "Chemistry is there, experience is there, it's not like (defensive coordinator Pat) Narduzzi is taking it easy on us, and Maxwell is making plays.''